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Article 12 of the Saudi Protection from Abuse Law

المادة 12 من نظام الحماية من الإيذاء

Amended by M/72

The article requires the Ministry to follow abuse cases it refers to the arresting authority, and that authority to keep it informed, and allows follow-up of cases after judgment for no less than 6 months.

Official text after amendments (Arabic)

Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.

1- مع مراعاة الأحكام الواردة في نظام الإجراءات الجزائية، تتابع الوزارة قضايا الإيذاء التي تحيلها إلى جهة الضبط وفقاً لما ورد في المادة (الحادية عشرة) من النظام، وعلى جهة الضبط إحاطة الوزارة بما انتهت إليه من إجراءت حيال كل قضية على حدة. وفي حال كان من تعرض للإيذاء من الأشخاص ذوق الإعاقة، فتستمر في متابعة القضية إلى حين الفصل فيها قضاءً.

2- تتولى الوزارة -عند الحاجة- متابعة حالات الإيذاء بعد الفصل فيها قضاءً لمدة لا تقل عن (6) أشهر

This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers

Article 12 explained in plain English

This article regulates the Ministry's role after an abuse case is referred to the arresting authority. The referral itself is provided for by Article 11: if the Ministry considers that the incident of abuse constitutes a crime, it must notify the arresting authority competent under the law so that it takes the necessary measures. Under Article 1, the Ministry is the Ministry of Social Affairs.

First: follow-up during the proceedings (paragraph 1)

  • Subject to the provisions of the Law of Criminal Procedure, the Ministry follows the abuse cases it has referred to the arresting authority.
  • The arresting authority must inform the Ministry of the measures it has reached in each case individually.
  • If the person who suffered the abuse is a person with a disability, the Ministry continues to follow the case until it is decided by the courts.

Second: follow-up after judgment (paragraph 2)

The Ministry, when needed, follows up cases of abuse after they are decided by the courts for a period of not less than 6 months. Follow-up here depends on need, and the text sets a minimum period without a maximum.

The article was amended by Royal Decree No. M/72 dated 6/8/1443 AH to take its present form.

Relation to the penalties: Article 13 sets the penalty for abuse, which is imprisonment from one month to one year and a fine of SAR 5,000 to SAR 50,000, or either of them, increased to imprisonment from one year to five years and a fine of SAR 50,000 to SAR 300,000 in cases including where the victim is a person with a disability, and the penalty is doubled in case of repetition.

A person following an abuse case after it has been referred would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases or personal status.

Practical example

The Ministry receives a report about the abuse of a young man with a disability in Riyadh by a relative, and considers that the incident constitutes a crime, so it refers it to the arresting authority. The Ministry follows the case, and the arresting authority must inform it of the measures it has reached. Because the victim is a person with a disability, the follow-up continues until judgment is issued. If needed, the Ministry follows his condition after judgment for not less than 6 months.

Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.

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Frequently asked questions about Article 12 of the Saudi Protection from Abuse Law

Does the Ministry follow an abuse case after referring it to the police?

Yes. The Ministry follows the abuse cases it refers to the arresting authority, and the arresting authority must inform it of the measures it has reached in each case.

How long does follow-up of an abuse case last after judgment?

When needed, the Ministry follows the case after it is decided by the courts for a period of not less than 6 months.

Is the rule different if the victim is a person with a disability?

Yes. The Ministry continues to follow the case until it is decided by the courts.

Amendment history

  1. Royal Decree No. M/72 — 6/8/1443 AH

    Official amendment text (Arabic)

    - صدر تعديل على هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/72) وتاريخ 1443/8/6هـ، لتكون بالنص الآتي:

    "1- مع مراعاة الأحكام الواردة في نظام الإجراءات الجزائية، تتابع الوزارة قضايا الإيذاء التي تحيلها إلى جهة الضبط وفقاً لما ورد في المادة (الحادية عشرة) من النظام، وعلى جهة الضبط إحاطة الوزارة بما انتهت إليه من إجراءت حيال كل قضية على حدة. وفي حال كان من تعرض للإيذاء من الأشخاص ذوق الإعاقة، فتستمر في متابعة القضية إلى حين الفصل فيها قضاءً.

    2- تتولى الوزارة -عند الحاجة- متابعة حالات الإيذاء بعد الفصل فيها قضاءً لمدة لا تقل عن (6) أشهر".

Original text before the amendments (Arabic)

تتابع الوزارة قضايا الإيذاء التي تحيلها إلى جهة الضبط، وفقاً لما ورد في المادة (الحادية عشرة) من هذا النظام، وعلى جهة الضبط إحاطة الوزارة بما انتهت إليه من إجراءات حيال كل قضية على حدة.

All amendments to this law (Arabic) →

Articles this article refers to

More articles on Referral and Follow-Up of Abuse Cases

The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.